Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Episode 1.18 - The Apartment - Review

“The Apartment” really felt like an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Like what a typical episode of the show should be - the sort of thing that you’d except when you tune in to watch it. It may not be the best episode, but it is a good episode, and a good sign that the show might start to be settling into what it is. Overall it was spectacularly even, balancing three stories and all of the characters, while keeping everything in the same general tone. Well done B99, well done. I know that means a lot coming from me.

First off there was story regarding the titular apartment with Jake and Gina. In a case of art imitating life, Gina and Jake knew each other as kids (like Andy Samberg and Chelsea Peretti). They spent a lot of time together in Jake’s grandmother’s apartment, the rent-controlled apartment that he managed to keep until this episode, at which point he either has to buy it or move out. Since Jake’s an irresponsible shopaholic there’s no way he can afford it, not even with the help of a shady loan shark. This story was great because it didn’t just follow the predictable ending of Gina buying the apartment and renting it out to Jake. Instead it turned into a personal contemplation of Jake’s immaturity, and inspired him to officially start his adulthood. He decides to rent Gina’s crappy starter apartment just like everyone else starting out, except that he’s starting out when he’s 33.

This may be one of the first times that Jake and Gina have ever come together in a story, and it was enlightening for both of the characters. Gina is a big personality and one of those characters were less is usually more, so she’s rarely appeared in an A story. However, Gina and Jake together helped to ground two characters that can frequently be outrageous. There was some great character development as the episode explored the difference between where Gina is in her life, as a eccentric but financially responsible adult, while Jake never even thought about adulthood, and wonders when everyone else did. Who knows how much Jake will actually start to “grow up” now that he realizes how far behind he might be? Chances are not too much, but having a specific direction for the character could definitely help give the show a little focus, similarly to the small arcs on Schur’s other show, Parks and Recreation.

Rosa and Boyle were the most fun I’ve ever seen, though I’ll admit that I was eating while I watched the episode and the hair stuff almost made me gag. It was great to see the two of them having fun together now that the one-sided tension has been lifted, due to Boyle’s hasty engagement. Similarly to Gina and Jake, Rosa and Boyle both felt a lot more grounded in this episode, even as they filled a fellow officer’s locker with hair and shaving cream. Also, Rosa has EMOTIONS? Watching her reaction to her deskmate’s misfortune was surprising, although if she wasn’t moved by his wife’s accident, subsequent addiction to painkillers, and his guilt for his dog’s sudden and painful death, then she would surely be a psychopath. Rosa’s invitation to Boyle for a drink was casual and a reminder of how their relationship has shifted since the start of the season. Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. ...And then sometimes it’s just more fun to hang out with someone when they’re not obsessing over you all the time.

The Captain’s evaluations were not super interesting, but they also held a moment of realization for Amy, as she confronted her biggest flaw - she’s kind of a buzzkill, she smokes secret cigarettes, she can’t hide her secret lists… Just kidding! It’s obviously her constant need for Holt’s approval and attention. While this may have been obvious to the audience from the first episode, this is the first time that Amy understood that acting for Holt and Holt only was an issue.

With all these subtle hints at character development, do you think the show will continue to explore the growth of the Nine-Niners, or will it instead hit the sitcom reset button? Also, did you also feel that this was a good, consistent episode? Or did it send you to snoozeville? Let us know below!

Side note: was it just me, or did anyone pick up on something between Gina and Jake? Just curious to see other’s reactions.

Line of the week: “Is there a reason you’re in interrupting me, mid-soup?” - Captain Holt

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